Varnish-catcher



V. KUKULKA.

VARNISH CATCHER.

APPLICATION FILED 050.17, 1920.

1,396,584, Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

UNITED STATES VALENTINE KUKULKA, OF MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN.

VARNISH-CATCHER.

Application filed December 17, 1920.

T 0 ([ZZ 10720221 it may concern Be it known that I. VALENTINE KUKULKA, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Muskegon Heights, in the county of b'luskegon and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Varnish-Catchers. of which the following is a specification.

In wood working factories where it is the custom to varnish the finished product by means of a spray, the floor of the booth in which the varnishing is done is usually covered with varnish which represents a total loss where there is any great amount of this work done. The object of the invention,

therefore, is to provide means for trapping the excess varnish and returning it to a container, so that it may again be used. To this end there is provided a funnel disposed within the varnishing booth and so shaped that it will direct the excess varnish to a discharge mouth from which it is trans ferred to an appropriate container. A support is provided for the funnel and the latter is designed to support a'turn-table on which the work is placed, the funnel support being vertically adjustable to raise and lower the same for different varieties of work. A fan is usually provided to carry away the fumes of the varnish and there is a great accumulation of the latter upon the base of the fan.

A further object of the invention contemplates the employment of a bib in connection with the fan for the return of this varnish to the funnel from which, of course, it passes to the container.

The invention is illustrated and described in a specific embodiment to which, however, it is not to be restricted. The right is reserved to make such changes or alterations as the actual reduction to practice may suggest, in so far as such changes or alterations are compatible in spirit with the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the usual form of varnishing booth equipped with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fi 1.

I' ig. 3 is a perspective view of the turntable standard.

The invention is employed in connection with the usual form of varnishing booth such as that shown at 1 which is closed on three sides but open on the fourth side Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8,1921.

Serial No. 431,411.

through which the operation of varnishing by the spraying process is carried on. In the back of the booth there is provided an exhaust fan 2, usually employed for the disposal of dust when the stock is dusted in the booth before varnishing. The fan also serves as a ventilating medium and as means for disposing of the fumes 0f the varnish. Were no means provided for trapping the varnish and returning it to a container, the varnish which leaves the machine in the form of a fine spray would be spread all over the floor and sides of the booth and would represent a constant loss reckoned on the value of the varnish being used. The present invention contemplates a means for trapping this excess varnish and to this end there is provided a funnel, generally desig nated 3, which is of the shape of av square pyramid but of course disposed in inverted position, the apex of the pyramid terminating in a discharge mouth 4, to which there is telescopically connected the tubular extension 5 which may be raised to permit the positioning below the discharge mouth of a catch can 6, the tubular extension, once the catch can is placed, entering an appropriate opening in the top of the can. The side and rear walls 7 of the funnel are extended to a greater height than the front wall 8 which terminates approximately at the level of the turn-table 9 in the center of which there is provided a socket 10 for pivotal engagement with the upper end of a standard 11. the latter being formed preferably of rod iron bent to provide four legs of the shape shown, the legs being united at their upper ends to form a stud or head for engagement with the socket 10. The curved feet 12 of the standard rest on the inclined side walls of the funnel. The stock to be varnished is placed on the turn-table and the spray directed upon it, the table being rotated as desired. All excess varnish strikes the side and back walls and is directed into the lower end of the To accommodate the invention to different sizes of stock, it is essential to make the funnel vertically adjustable to lower for large stock and raise for small stock. To this end there are provided the extensible standards generally designated 14, each of which consists of two adjustably connected elements 15 and 16, the latter of which are connected at their upper ends with a band 17 surrounding and secured to the funnel as shown and the former or" which are pro- Vided with feet whereby they are secured to the floor of the booth by appropriate fasteners such as lag screws 18. The two elements 15 and 16 are interconnected by means of a screw 19 reversely threaded as regards its opposite ends and carrying an appropriate operating disk 20 at its longitudinal center. Obviously the rotation of the disks 20 of the several standards will serve toelevate or lower the funnel'dependmg on the direction in which the disks are returned.

' The apron21 used in conjunction with the fan is rolled as indicated at 22 for dis position in the fan housing 23 and is provided with;a depending chute 24 overhanging the upper end of the funnel- This chute serving to direct the excess varnish accumulating around the fan into the funnel.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is l. The combination with a I varnishing booth, of a funnel disposed within the latter and provided with a discharge mouth, and a turn-table for stock to be varnished, the turn-table being disposed within the funnel,

- whereby excess varnish is directed to the discharge mouth for gathering at thelatter. 2. The combination with a varnishing booth, of a funnel disposed within the booth and provided with a discharge mouth, a telescoping tubular extension connected with the discharge mouth, and a support for stock to be varnished, the support being disposed above the funnel, whereby excess varnish may be gathered and directed to the discharge mouth to be collected therefrom.

8. The combination with a varnishing booth, of a funnel disposed within the latter andsprovided at its lower end with a discharge mouth toward which the walls of the funnel converge, a turn-table disposed within the funnel, the front wall of the funnel terminating approximately flush with the top of the turn-table, the side and rear walls of the funnel extending a substantial distance above the plane of the turn-table for the purpose specified.

4:. The combination with a varnishing booth, of a funnel disposed within the latter and provided with a discharge mouth,

a turntable for the stock to be varnished,

the turn-table being disposed within the funnel, and means for elevating and lowering the funnel.

5. The, combination with a varnishing booth, of a funnel disposed within the latter and provided at its lower end with a discharge mouth toward which the walls of the funnel converge, a turn-table disposed within and carried by the funnel, a band in surrounding relation to the funnel, and extensible standards secured to the floor of the booth and having their upper ends connected with said band in the manner and for the purpose specified. f

r In testimony whereof he affixes his signature.

VALENTINE KUKULKA. 

